5-at-10: NFL power poll, SEC asked and answered, UT hoops, Rushmore of Thanksgiving food

Gang, mailbag, yo, mailbag.

From the "Talks too much" studios, the brew is strange and the strange is brewing. Take off, eh.

NFL Power Poll

photo Football tile

This could be the single best regular season in the history of organized football.

Seriously. High school football state playoffs hit the semifinals in Tennessee and the quarterfinals in Georgia. It's rivalry weekend across college football with three of the all-time rivalries taking center stage with the Iron Bowl, Ohio State-Michigan and Notre Dame-USC happening.

In the NFL, well, there's only showdowns between the two best rosters 1 to 53 (Seattle at San Francisco), the two Super Bowl favorites (New England-Green Bay), control of the AFC West (Denver-Kansas City) and the NFC East (Dallas-Philadelphia) and at least four other games with playoff implications for both sides.

Great times.

Plus, the games are spread across multiple days and multiple channels, starting on Thursday because of the Thanksgiving holiday. And for this we are most thankful.

Want to know what else we're thankful for in the NFL? Glad you asked (and yes, I asked, but you know what I meant).

Power Poll

photo Tom Brady

1. New England. I'm thankful that the sports cosmic tumblers clicked to together and the allowed a good coach who had bounced around the AFC landed in New England the same time an under-appreciated sixth-round quarterback pick did. The marriage of Bill Belichick and Tom Brady has produced the greatest dynasty in the modern NFL. In truth, in a sports world - and a society in general - that is striving for unpredictable and upsets and the dramatic ending, there is something poetic and just with the steady excellence that is the Patriots.

2. Green Bay. I'm thankful that we as football fans get to watch Aaron Rodgers throw the football. Dude is on the short lost of the most physically complete quarterbacks ever. (Personal Rushmore of most physically talented QBs: Rodgers, Elway, Cunningham, Young. What's yours?)

3. Dallas. I'm thankful the Cowboys are relevant again. Sunday night was a game that the Cowboys of the last five years would have lost. Simply, put, this Cowboys team is different because their offensive line is mugging folks. Hence, they run the football. Hence, they keep a mediocre defense off the field. Hence, they win games. Simple, right?

4. Denver. I'm thankful to have been paying attention during the run of the greatest preparer in team sports history. Peyton Manning has redefined the position in a lot of ways by winning more games Monday-to-Saturday than any QB ever. He's the anti-Jeff George. And it's been a treat to watch. Everyone sing along, "Chicken Parm you taste so good."

5. Philadelphia. I'm thankful that Chip Kelly's offense has found success in the NFL and brought a new way to look moving the football. Is it for everyone? Of course not. But it could be an option for survival and even success for the two-thirds of the league that does not have a top-10 dropback passer. And options are good. "Man, I love that new car smell."

Bottom five

28. The entire NFC South. I'm thankful that we're not forced to watch the entirety of film on the worst division in NFL history. That's right, when Ron Jaworski breaks down tape of the NATION FOOTBALL LEAGUE, the NFC South is the first division ever to have all of its teams three games under .500. Hey, someone has to make the playoffs, so as Lloyd Christmas ponders, "You're saying there's a chance."

photo University of Tennessee logo

29. Tennessee. I'm thankful that the Titans are recognizing that you have to blow up the village before you can rebuild it. Hey, we don't know if Zach Mettenberger is the guy, but we feel certain that Jake Locker and Charlie Whitehurst aren't. And you have to know before you look at spending a top-five pick on a QB, and in truth Mettenberger has displayed enough skills to make you believe that the Titans could spend their top-five selection next May on one of its other needs. (Hint: A pass rusher would be a nice stocking stuffer.)

30. New York Jets. I'm thankful that Rex Ryan has had a chance to show us the opposite of Bill Belichick. And that holds true in about every way possible other than the fact that each is a very good defensive mind. Ryan, like recently dismissed Florida coach Will Muschamp, will not get a head coaching job in the near future, but each will have defensive coordinator offers lined up around the block.

31. Oakland. I'm thankful that the Raiders won last Thursday and also that Al Davis has not had to watch this debacle. Man, it's bad.

32. Jacksonville. I'm thankful that Jaguars are... well, we're not 100 percent certain what we're thankful for when it comes to the Jags. Hmmmm. OK, here's one. I'm thankful for alliteration, like Jacksonville Jaguars. It's a fun-filled fancy fashioned filler for future philosophers forever.

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SEC asked and answered

photo Alabama head coach Nick Saban says he really likes this year's Crimson Tide but doesn't want them looking ahead with work still to be done.

1. Alabama (10-1, 6-1; vs. Auburn, 7:45 p.m.): How long did the Tide spend on special teams this week and how often was the end to last year's Iron Bowl mentioned in practice? We think there was some extra focus spent on all areas as the top-ranked Tide prepare for Auburn. We also believe that if there was a random drill not performed to Nick Saban's satisfaction, we believe the phrase "That's how you lose a shot at the national title in one second" may have been used. We also believe Saban's tone likely was less than cordial.

2. Mississippi State (10-1, 6-1; at Ole Miss, 3:30 p.m.): Can Mississippi State finish the drill and stay within the title Four even if they do not win their division? Well, the Bulldogs handled their BID-ness last week against Vandy in impressive fashion. Now they have to handle their emotions and go on the road to the "School up North" as Dan Mullen likes to refer to them. If you are a cowbell toter, you have to love the experience and relative steadiness of your quarterback in an atmosphere with this much at stake.

3. Georgia (9-2, 6-2; vs. Georgia Tech, noon): Is Georgia ready for the ground-and-pound Yellow Jackets? Growing up in Smyrna right outside of Atlanta, we realize this rivalry is sneaky intense. That said, true rivalries can't be as one-sided as this one has been since Mark Richt (he's 12-1 against Tech) has been in Athens. Tech has enjoyed a rebound season - and the Jackets start 10 seniors who have never beaten the Bulldogs - so the motivation is there. This one will be fun, and it will be interesting to see how the outcome of the Missouri-Arkansas game will effect Georgia's motivation.

4. Auburn (8-3, 4-3; at Alabama, 7:45 p.m.): Can the Tigers save their season against impossible odds Saturday? The chance at a return trip to the national championship zoomed from Auburn's grasp early in its nightmare at Sanford Stadium 10 days ago. Now, the only meaningful championship left for these Tigers is a possible state title against the Tide. We're not sure a team as prone to self-inflicted wounds as this Auburn team is can win at Alabama at night, but if receiver Duke Williams comes back, that would be hugely beneficial. Still, it's a long challenge.

5. Missouri (9-2, 6-1; vs. Arkansas, 2:30 p.m., Friday): Will we keep under-valuing Gary Pinkel and the Tigers? Missouri is 13-2 in SEC games the last two years - that's tied for the best record in that time with Alabama. And if we asked what are the two most successful programs in the SEC since the start of last season are you ready to say Alabama and Missouri? Now, the Tigers are a win away from a return trip to the SEC title game.

6. Ole Miss (8-3, 4-3; vs. Mississippi State, 3:30 p.m.): Can a battered bunch of Rebels mount much of a defense against an invading force? Well, that's what they said about Luke Skywalker and Co. too and we saw how that turned out. In truth, the Rebels without arguably their most important player on each side of the ball with Laquon Treadwell and Denzel Nkemdiche nursing injuries are going to a gun fight with a switch blade. But with emotions as high as these - especially after last year's Egg Bowl scrambling Ole Miss endured - maybe that switch blade could be a light saber. And maybe Good Bo Wallace will be wielding it. But, if Wallace starts fading toward the Dark Side, well, you know how that will end.

7. Arkansas (6-5, 2-5; at Missouri, xxx): Who knew that Arkansas coach Bret Bielema had a stand-up comedian side? After extending his SEC winning streak to two after starting 0-11 with a second consecutive SEC blanking with a 30-0 win over Ole Miss, Bielema took to social media and became Uncle Miltie with a photo that said: "I don't always snap SEC losing steaks but when I do I shut out 2 ranked SEC opponents back-to-back." Stay thirsty my friends.

8. LSU (7-4, 3-4; at Texas A&M, 7:30 p.m., Thursday): Could LSU be the worst last-place team in college football history? You bet. A loss on Thanksgiving and an Arkansas win on Friday could mean the Tigers are in the basement in the SEC West. Crazy, right?

9. Texas A&M (7-4, 3-4; vs. LSU, 7:30 p.m., Thursday): Is this too low for an Aggies bunch that could win eight games? Here's saying the Aggies are a collection of smoke and mirrors? Here's saying that Texas A&M's non-conference schedule is a joke and two of its three SEC wins were a miracle rally in overtime against an Arkansas team that would be at least a seven-point favorite over them today and a miracle win when Auburn imploded.

photo Will Muschamp

10. Florida (6-4, 4-4; at Florida State, 3:30 p.m.): Are Will Muschamp and the Gators America's team this week? You better believe it, considering Florida has a chance to derail the Death Star known as FSU and Darth Jimbo.

11. Tennessee (5-6, 2-5; at Vandy, 4 p.m.) Would a loss Saturday to Vandy be worse than the loss UT suffered to Kentucky a few years ago? Absolutely. That Kentucky team used a wide receiver at quarterback and ran five plays to sneak by the brain trust that was Dooley and Sunseri - SAAALLLLL!!! - and it wasn't pretty. This UT-Vandy match-up is so one-sided on the field it's staggering, no matter what Butch Jones says in his news conferences. UT should cruise by 28.

12. South Carolina (6-5, 3-5; at Clemson, noon): Is Will Muschamp a potential candidate for the Gamecocks defensive coordinator spot? Steve Spurrier and Muschamp are tight, but Spurrier also knows that the biggest troubles on the South Carolina defense this year was a lack of talent on the field rather than the decisions made coordinating. Certainly Muschamp would be an upgraded over Lorenzo Booker, but Spurrier's a pretty loyal cat.

13. Kentucky (5-6, 2-6; at Louisville, noon): Is this arguably the biggest non-conference game on the schedule this week? No, but you could make an argument that the meaning for Mark Stoops and the Wildcats is off the charts, considering this game will determine postseason eligibility.

14. Vandy (3-8, 0-7; vs. Tennessee 4 p.m.): Does Vandy have any shot to pull the upset? We heard UT's Coach Jones praise the Commodores for their talent and physicality and all the other things coaches are supposed to say when they face a 17-point road underdog. Still, it's hard to see a single area in which Vandy has an edge.

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Eric Berry

Eric Berry will miss the rest of the NFL season because of a mass detected in his chest.

There are concerns it could be lymphoma and there is no official report as of yet.

We do know that Berry is one of the best UT Vols we've ever seen and one of the best kids we've ever covered.

We also know that our prayers are with him and all the others around the country that deal with life-challenging illness. Be thankful for every day. It's a treasure.

Side Rushmore: What's our Rushmore of the best SEC defensive football players you ever saw in person: We'll go Berry, Derrick Thomas, Patrick Peterson and

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This and that

photo LeBron James

- The Boston Red Sox did some Christmas shopping before Black Friday, landing Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval. Looks like someone in the greater New England area did not like being a non-factor in last year's playoff push. If the Red Sox stay healthy - and figuring they likely will move Yoenis Cespedes for pitching - a top half of the order of Victorino, Pedoria, Sandoval, Oritz, Ramirez is a pretty good start.

- LeBron James and the Cavs snapped a four-game losing streak. Yes, we are a big LeBron fan, but the hand-wringing about this bunch 13 games in seems a little over the top, no? Hey we get it that when you make the most noise you get the most grease and LeBron is a world-class noise maker. Still, we kind of commend the path the Cavs have taken, in that it would be easy for James to dominate down the stretch of games and be 10-3 rather than 6-7, but how would that help come playoff time? Teaching the rest of the Cavs to fish gives Cleveland a better chance to feast when it counts.

- Louisville coach Rick Pitino is the early frontrunner for college hoops one-liner of the year. After squeaking by Savannah State 87-26 and being asked about how you try not running it up on a lesser opponent - and the Cards led 29-0 and 41-7 at halftime - Pitino said: "I don't like to see any team struggle like that. I really don't. I mean, We played four white guys and an Egyptian. We tried everything." If the non-American in that group committed a traveling violation, here's hoping the pep band played "Walk Like an Egyptian." Good times.

- Trouble brewing? First-year UT basketball coach Donnie Tyndall is in a precarious situation. Southern Miss, Tyndall's former program, is in NCAA hot water and being investigated. That and $4 will get you a fancy cup of coffee. But in the last 24 hours we have learned that two of Tyndall's assistants - guys who came with him to Knoxville from Hattiesburg - have resigned for personal reasons. And if we were speaking with Mr. Clooney, we'd feel comfortable saying, "In the very least, the timing is curious, George." Thoughts?

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Today's question

Thanks for newcomer tcase08 for playing along with the Rushmore. We got covered up Monday in preparation of a busy holiday week and did not revisit the Rushmore of Steve Martin movies. Here's our list: Tcase's suggestion of "The Jerk" is far left, followed by "Planes, Trains and Automobiles," "Parenthood" and then "Father of the Bride." "Roxanne" is sneaky good and we may have listed that one before we had a daughter and "Father of the Bride" takes on a whole new direction. It's getting dusty in here.

As for today's Rushmore, you can chime in on the Rushmore of best defensive SEC football players ever from the above tidbit.

We are going to stay Thanksgiving and ask for your Rushmore of best Thanksgiving lunch dishes. You only get four. Whatcha' putting on your plate?

Go - and remember the mailbag.

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